What your dentists in Syracuse, New York want you to know about oral hygiene
It’s easy to neglect your smile, but if you do, the consequences can be huge. Your smile is your biggest asset. Your smile helps you look your best, and helps you enjoy a healthy diet of the foods you love. If you neglect your smile by not keeping good oral hygiene habits, you may end up with tooth pain or lost teeth. Dr. Karen Lawitts in Syracuse, New York want to share how you can keep good oral hygiene habits. They proudly serve residents of Syracuse, Dewitt, and Jamesville, New York and they can help you too!
The goal of keeping good oral hygiene habits is to remove plaque thoroughly and frequently. That’s because plaque contains millions of microscopic bacteria. These bacteria work to destroy tooth enamel, giving you a mouth full of tooth decay. The bacteria also inflame your soft tissue and gums and infect the bone that supports your teeth.
The bad effects of plaque bacteria can be minimized by adopting excellent oral hygiene habits. Fortunately, good oral hygiene habits are easy, and won’t take much time out of your busy life. Just remember to:
Brush your teeth regularly, including after eating and before you go to bed. A soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste are your tools of choice to clean your teeth. Brush gently, in a circular motion. You don’t need to use a lot of pressure when you brush. Clean each tooth surface thoroughly and don’t forget to brush along the gumline.
Floss once each day, preferably before you go to sleep. Use a single piece of floss or floss picks if they are easier. Floss in between each tooth, wrapping around each tooth as you go. Wrapping the floss ensures the floss touches the tooth surface completely.
If you wish, you can also use a fluoride mouthrinse after you floss, before you go to sleep. The fluoride will help to strengthen your tooth enamel.
When you keep good oral hygiene habits, you are doing a lot to ensure you will enjoy your smile for life. For more information about oral hygiene and dental care, call the experts, Drs. Karen Lawitts, serving the residents of Syracuse, Dewitt, and Jamesville, New York. Call today!